Easter Resolutions 2008
Butterfly Sanctuary, Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Philippines. Photo by Nico Cawed.
Happy Easter!
As a Roman Catholic, I love this day, as all other Christians in the world celebrate the greatest gift of all!
Last year, I decided to make 8 resolutions on this occasion (instead of the ones we typically make on the new year) and it is time to review them and make new ones. These were last year’s resolutions:
1. To Finish What I Start – be they websites, or projects, or a crochet doily.
2. To Create Employment – because a man’s dignity is based on his work. In the past I would consider employees and salaries as an expense, so I have been setting up businesses that would require less manpower. But this is a bad attitude. I have to keep reminding myself, each person hired is a whole family fed.
3. To Be More Tolerant and Kind – because many times I am exasperated by the folks in my town. But sometimes I forget that not everyone is as blessed as I am, so I have to even things up for others.
4. To Give More – Sometimes I think, “What is all this for?” All one really needs is a comfortable old age. Everything else is superfluous. Maybe it’s not knowing or trusting whom to give. I guess I will target one GK house.
5. To Fix Myself Up Everyday – being a citizen of Baguio plus a denizen of the web has killed my fashion sense.
6. To Be More Organized – I am too lazy to keep records or write things down. I will start with little things, like email addresses, and computer files and my room. Maybe I need better storage for my room and my things.
7. To Get Rid of Things I have Not Used in One Year – this is perfect Spring Cleaning time.
8. To Be More Politically Active – instead of watching from my perch and criticizing, I have to be an agent of change. Lest you guys think I am insane enough to enter the corrupt world of politics, know that I intend to be a demonstrator once again, not a demonstratee.
Assessment: Am still stuck in last year’s rut as far as fixing myself up and being better organized is concerned. As for Spring cleaning, a new resolution must be included — that I STOP BUYING useless things (those that I want and not necessarily need) so as not to have a whole new year’s worth of junk.
Now, as far a tolerant and kind is concerned, I think I can do the kind part. The tolerate part is not good. Intolerant yet kind should be the resolution.
So here’s my new set:
1. To Finish What I Start – oh, this is where I fail all the time.
2. To Create Even More Employment – I did not fail at all here and things are in the works for more opportunities for other folks.
3. To Be Intolerant Yet Kind – I will not tolerate bad motives — I learned that everything is about motive. Kindness is reserved for incompetence (of course we must work to make them competent) or incapacity (we must work to make them capable) but with good motives.
4. To Give More without Neglecting Me – for it is in making sure I have more than enough to give that I can give more.
5. To Fix Myself Up Every Other Day – the daily thing was unreasonable, coming from not fixing myself up for 10 years!
6. To Be More Organized – I really should have one room instead of being mobile in my own home.
7. To Stop Buying Things – So that there will be less to clean and fix. Having one pair of shoes, though, is not working for me. I must have one good pair for every occasion — working, walking, riding, night life.
8. To Be More Politically and Socially Active – must include re-engaging in Baguio society and infecting everyone with my boundless enthusiasm for making things better instead of just blogging. Lest readers think the latter is all I did last year, know that a lot of the work was done offline.
9. To Learn to Say No – Might Gupit once asked me if I was running for Ms. Congeniality and surprisingly, I answered, “Yes.” Then when folks let me down I feel really, really bad. Or when I let folks down, they and I feel really, really bad. I should really stop flagellating myself this way.
10. To BE the Change I Want to SEE in the World. Thanks, PAGASA, for making me understand this concept.
We just...
Nice, Lisa, but #5 makes me go, duh? Why not everyday?
Hahaha Resty,
Because I FAILED in last year’s resolve to fix up EVERYDAY. So this convoluted mind is thinking, “Baby steps, Lisa — how about blow dry and make up every OTHER day instead?”
This very curly hair cannot take that much styling!
Ah I see, thanks Lisa.
cool pic. did you read my latest blog at stormsails? talk about synchronicity.
that is a wonderful list.
5. To Fix Myself Up Every Other Day – the daily thing was unreasonable, coming from not fixing myself up for 10 years! >hmmm…i was wondering about that.
6. To Be More Organized – I really should have one room instead of being mobile in my own home. >yes it is a good idea to separate the office from the bedroom.
“failure is not the falling down…it’s the staying down.”
WOHW! Way to go Lisa!
Mike,
When I moved up to Baguio, it was all about dressing up with hats and scarves, wearing my favorite diamonds, my brows perfectly waxed, high heels (basically, Manila mode). Then Baguio people broke into my house at 4pm, bashed my back door in, stole all the jewelry that I worked so hard for since I was 16 to buy, among other things.
I bring out the jaguar and folks try to steal the emblem, try to scratch it up. Anything nice I own people feel entitled to own it, too. Even little things like Rayban shades and a Versace umbrella all stolen.
You wear boots and a helmet for protection when you ride a horse folks look at you like you’re an alien, not realizing you own the nicest, tallest horse and without the helmet your forehead will be scratched up by the low branches along your route.
I figured if I dress and look ‘poor,’ folks would leave me alone. This look has been my ‘protection’ against the oppression of those who disregard your hard work, honesty and creativity — and judge you merely by your surname. Behaving ‘poor’ has also stopped folks from thinking that my generosity is a sign of stupidity pr weakness. I even went as far as telling a close friend from Baguio, “One thing you must know about me — I may be nice but I am not stupid.”
This has been my Baguio for the past 11 years, Mike. Ergo, a scruffy-looking 1996 Nissan Altima, totally beat up, attracts no attention.
Fun, huh.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson
Lisa,
So sorry to hear that’s how you have to live. My family moved from the Philippines when I was 4, but I do like to see what’s going on from my homeland.
Take care.
Oh yes, Mike, ergo the 2008 Easter Resolutions.
Hi Alvin, it’s not all bad. A guest from Holland remarked today, “I noticed that the folks here do not dress up much”
I explained, the gap between rich and poor (explained how poverty is forced upon an apathetic and systematically ‘moronized’ people artificially in a country that is rich with natural resources and innately intelligent individuals) is much wider now that there is a sense of entitlement in both ‘camps:’
I am rich, therefore I am entitled to much more
I am poor, therefore I am entitled to much more
But those of us who can see the inequity, how wrong the Philippines and the world have become, will work on making it better, no matter what it takes.
Don’t worry, the Filipino remains beautiful. We will heal.
Hi Liza,
Your 2007 Easter resolution was my favorite from your blog. 2008 revised, is my new favorite. #2 resolution strucked me the most last year, so I put that in my “treasure box.” I said, “Wow! What a rare and noble act.” If every (Filipino)employer would just adopt that philosophy, it will create such change in the heart of working Filipinos. Hindi lang dignity, but it also creates so much gratitude that makes one wants to give back- so it multiplies! Your #s 3 and 4 gave your #2 the perfect balance. Love the changes. It takes a lot of wisdom and maturity to find where intolerance and kindness co-exist. But is seems like you are there. New #4 is one proof. Personally, “growing up” in my forties is just a blast! It even humbles me enough to “borrow” other peoples’ wisdom. (Thanks Liza.) And hey, dressing down and being okay with it means our self-worth has also shifted focus from the shallower outside to the deeper comfort of our existence. But, we do still need to have have (comfortable and cool) matching shoes! And sunscreen- Ha! Ha! Oh, and last thing, how’s the GK-house dream going?
Wow, Cynthia!
It’s so wonderful to know that some of those resolutions touched others’ hearts, too. The create employment part has been ingrained in members of my family since birth.
I love the “growing up in my forties bit, too!” This is a wonderful time to be alive — to be privileged enough to be called upon our country to save it, to have enough wisdom (and energy left) to save the world!
Dressing down did that for me, too. It was more like — “see ME,” not the clothes and jewelry. Sometimes, I purposely do not put photos on my posts because folks just react to the pictures and not the message below — that’s when I say, “HEAR me.”
As for the GK house, coming along as scheduled I would say. But I have to maybe accelerate — costs do go up of one moves too slowly.
Thanks so much for your comment.
You riding that big horse, I think I remember you now hehehe…Seriously, good luck with these resolutions. Can’t wait for the next update!
Wow. Kasama ba sa resolutions mo ang bagong look ng Baguio Insider? Thanks for including a link to PAGASA.
Hi Lovelyn,
Yup, that beautiful horse that was Jupiter. He was a sweet horse, too, with a wonderful temperament and sensitivity. Thanks for the encouragement.
Hiya Dale,
Baguio Insider gets updated every so often with a new look. I like the birds. Maybe next time butterflies or bees. This Damai theme is a wordpress theme that in Malay, loosely translated, means tranquility. Glad you like it!